Inaugural JAX Contemporary: MOCA Jacksonville Arts Triennial Ignites the City’s Creative Spirit
By Ylva Rouse Senior Curator, MOCA Jacksonville Photos by Camille Garzon
A palpable buzz of excitement filled the air at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville on the night of April 10, as participating artists from the greater Jacksonville area, together with family and friends, streamed through the doors for the inaugural “JAX Contemporary: MOCA Jacksonville Arts Triennial” opening celebration. More than 750 members of the community joined the celebration. The excitement made many people recall the energy and engagement around the “Imagination Squared” exhibition of 2010, when nearly a thousand artworks created by a broad spectrum of the Jacksonville community were presented in the museum’s atrium, launching the famed Project Atrium series.
“Imagination Squared” was spearheaded by local artist Dolf James, and it is surely no coincidence that “JAX Contemporary” is sponsored by James, together with his wife Anna. It’s a recognition of the importance to the community of this initiative that is not just an exhibition. It seeks to be a catalyst, showcasing the broad vitality of the artists working in our city today. It is also no coincidence that the opening of “JAX Contemporary” was presented at the museum concurrently with the exhibition “The Armory South: the 1924 Woman’s Club Exhibition Rediscovered,” which tells the story of a forgotten but pivotal moment, when Jacksonville played a critical part in the development of American art in the South, illustrating the crucial role the support of living artists plays in the development of a city’s identity and sense of place.
“JAX Contemporary” is the result of an open call to which more than 400 professional artists responded. The jury selected 64 finalists to participate in the exhibition.
